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Harris County Probate Court Records, Courts 1–5, Wills, Fees & E-Filing
Use this independent guide to search Harris County probate records, identify Probate Court 1 through 5, check docket settings, file or probate a will, understand e-filing, request certified records, review common fees and reach the correct Houston clerk or court office.
Where Should Harris County Probate Users Start?
Use two official systems. Start with the Harris County Clerk Probate Department for case records, filed documents, copies, letters and filing-side questions. Use the assigned Harris County Probate Court for court-specific dockets, hearing procedures, scheduling, courtroom instructions, guardianship information and court forms.
Harris County has five statutory probate courts. Probate Courts 1 through 4 are at 201 Caroline Street in Houston. Probate Court No. 5 is at 1115 Congress Street, 5th Floor.
Choose the Harris County Probate Task You Need
The record-search system, court docket, original-will procedure, guardianship information and certified-copy process are not the same thing.
Search a probate case or document
Case number, party, attorney, company, court number, status or file-date searches.
Harris County Clerk Probate Document Search.
The clerk record search is separate from the assigned court’s hearing docket.
How to Search Harris County Probate Court Records
The County Clerk’s Probate Document Search is the official starting point for Harris County probate case records. The portal supports multiple search methods and currently states that probate filings are reflected back to 1837, with online images available for more recent filings.
Open the probate search portal
Use the Harris County Clerk search with Probate Courts selected as the case type.
Search by cause number first
If you do not have it, try party name, attorney name, company name, court number, status or filing-date range.
Confirm the assigned Probate Court
Harris County has Probate Courts 1 through 5. Save the assigned court before looking for the hearing docket.
Open the document image when available
Some newer case documents can be viewed or ordered through the County Clerk portal.
Order certified proof when required
A bank, title company, agency or another court may require certified letters, a certified order or another official copy rather than an online image.
Harris County Probate Courts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Save the court number from the case search before calling or checking a hearing. Individual courts maintain their own docket, scheduling and courtroom resources.
Probate Court No. 1
Judge: Jerry Simoneaux
201 Caroline, 6th Floor
832-927-1401
Probate Court No. 2
Judge: Pamela Medina
201 Caroline, Houston
832-927-1402
Probate Court No. 3
Judge: Jason Cox
201 Caroline, 7th Floor
832-927-1403
Probate Court No. 4
Judge: James Horwitz
201 Caroline, 7th Floor
832-927-1404
Probate Court No. 5
Judge: Fransheneka “Fran” Watson
1115 Congress St., 5th Floor
832-927-1405
Location warning: Courts 1–4 and the County Clerk Probate Department are at 201 Caroline, but not on the same floor. Probate Court 5 is at a different building: 1115 Congress Street.
How to Check Harris County Probate Court Docket Dates
A probate case search tells you the case and assigned court. A court setting tells you when a matter is scheduled. Use the Clerk’s Probate Court Settings page or the specific Probate Court’s docket page.
Find the case first
Use the County Clerk probate record search and confirm the court number.
Check Probate Court Settings
Use the Clerk’s settings page to review docket dates or court schedule information.
Verify court-specific instructions
For Zoom links, online scheduling, witnesses, contested matters or special settings, use the assigned court’s official page.
Opening an Estate or Probating a Will in Harris County
Harris County Probate Courts handle several different decedent-estate procedures. The correct path depends on whether there is a valid will, whether administration is needed, whether heirs must be determined, estate debts and other facts.
Probate of Will
Used when a will must be admitted and an executor may need Letters Testamentary.
Estate Administration
Used when a personal representative must administer the estate under court authority.
Heirship Proceeding
May be required when heirs must be legally determined.
Muniment of Title
A Texas probate option in qualifying will cases where traditional administration may not be necessary.
Small Estate Affidavit
Available only when Texas statutory requirements are satisfied.
Foreign Will / Ancillary Issues
Special procedures may apply when the primary probate proceeding occurred elsewhere.
Do not pick the procedure from the form title alone. Choosing between administration, heirship, muniment of title and a Small Estate Affidavit can require legal analysis.
Original Will: File It Within Three Business Days
Harris County’s Probate e-File FAQ says an original will is exempt from electronic filing. A copy of the will should be attached to the electronically filed probate application, but the physical original must then be filed with the County Clerk within three business days after the application is submitted electronically.
E-file the application
Electronically file the probate application using the approved Texas e-filing process.
Attach a copy of the will
The County Clerk FAQ says the copy should be included as an attachment to the electronically filed application.
Deliver the original
File the physical original will with the Harris County Clerk within three business days after the electronic application is submitted.
Do not treat the uploaded PDF as the original will. The original document follows the clerk’s physical filing procedure.
Harris County Probate E-Filing Rules
Attorneys must electronically file court documents in Harris County Probate Courts through an approved filing service connected to the Texas e-filing system. Self-represented users are not subject to the same attorney mandate.
Attorney filing
Texas mandatory e-filing rules apply to attorneys filing in Harris County Probate Courts.
Original wills
Wills are among the documents exempt from electronic filing.
Other exceptions
The Clerk FAQ also identifies codicils, bonds and citation returns as examples of e-filing exceptions.
When Harris County Probate May Require an Attorney
Harris County Probate Courts publish a Pro Se Applicants Policy explaining that an executor, administrator or guardian usually represents interests beyond his or her own. Because of that fiduciary role, many applications for letters, heirship and guardianship require representation by a licensed attorney.
Serving as fiduciary
You do not have to be a lawyer to serve as executor, administrator or guardian, but the fiduciary may need counsel when representing an estate, beneficiaries, creditors or a ward.
Limited pro se situations
The court policy identifies limited proceedings in which a person may truly represent only himself or herself, including some qualifying Small Estate Affidavit or muniment situations.
Clerk staff cannot give legal advice or decide which probate procedure you should use.
Harris County Guardianship Court Information
Harris County Probate Courts handle guardianship matters involving capacity, appointment of guardians and continuing court supervision. Guardianship procedures can include medical evidence, attorney or guardian ad litem appointments, bonds, inventories, annual reports and court hearings.
Find the assigned court
Use the probate case search first, then open the assigned court’s guardianship page.
Use current checklists
Individual Probate Courts publish guardianship checklists, forms and court-specific instructions.
Letters of Guardianship
The County Clerk issues official letters reflecting creation of the guardianship and identifying the ward and guardian.
Harris County Probate Court Initial Filing Fees
The Harris County Clerk’s published probate fee sheet lists a $360 initial filing fee for many new probate case categories. Service, citation, posting, publication and other charges are additional.
$360 is not necessarily the final amount. The Clerk’s fee notice specifically says posting, publication and personal service are not included in the new-estate filing fee.
Harris County Probate Copies and Certified Records
Search the probate case first, then determine whether you need a free watermarked online image, a non-certified copy, a certified copy or a physical certified copy with the form of seal required by the recipient.
Certified electronic copy
The Clerk FAQ lists a $5 certification fee plus $1 for up to 10 pages and 10¢ per page over 10, per document.
Certified paper copy
The Clerk lists a $5 certification fee plus $1 per page, per document.
Raised-seal warning: the County Clerk notes that certified copies purchased online do not have a raised seal. If the receiving institution requires one, request the appropriate paper certified copy directly.
Harris County Probate Clerk Address, Phone and Mailing Information
In-person Probate Department
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-274-8585
Fax: 713-222-1177
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mailing address
Harris County Clerk
Attn: Probate Court Department
P.O. Box 1525
Houston, TX 77251-1525
Do not send cash by mail. Verify acceptable payment and service costs before mailing a filing.
Why the Assigned Probate Court Number Matters
The five Probate Courts share a county records system, but each court can publish its own docket schedule, online-setting process, forms, hearing practices, guardianship checklists and courtroom instructions.
Probate Court 1
Publishes court resources, annotated probate and guardianship checklists, remote-proceeding guidance and docket links.
Probate Court 3
Publishes detailed docket schedules for guardianship, heirship, wills, administrations, ancillary matters and mental-health proceedings.
Probate Court 4
Publishes specific uncontested, probate, heirship, guardianship and remote-hearing requirements. Court 4 states that ancillary dockets are held in person.
Do not assume one Harris County Probate Court’s hearing instructions apply to all five courts.
Harris County Statutory Probate Court Jurisdiction
Decedents’ estates
Probate of wills, determination of heirship, appointment of executors and administrators and related estate litigation.
Guardianships
Capacity determinations, appointment of guardians and lawsuits involving guardians.
Trust matters
Trust construction, modification and lawsuits involving trustees.
Mental health
The official jurisdiction page identifies Probate Courts 3 and 4 for involuntary mental-health commitments and forced-medication matters.
Related litigation
Statutory probate courts can have concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in certain estate, guardianship and trust lawsuits.
Court appointments
Probate matters may involve attorneys ad litem, guardians ad litem and other court-appointed professionals.
Official Harris County Probate Court Links
Why a Harris County Probate Search or Filing May Not Work
Wrong case type
Make sure the County Clerk search is set to Probate Courts.
Name mismatch
Try the exact legal name, estate name, decedent name, attorney name or cause number.
Wrong court number
Save Probate Court 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 before checking the docket or calling court staff.
Restricted record
Guardianship, mental-health and other protected records may not be publicly available like an ordinary estate filing.
Image not online
An indexed case does not guarantee that every document image is available electronically.
E-file exception
Original wills, codicils, bonds and citation returns can require non-electronic handling.
Harris County Probate Court Locations
Probate Courts 1–4
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline Street
Houston, TX 77002
Probate Court No. 5
1115 Congress Street
5th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
201 Caroline Street — Probate Courts 1–4 and Clerk Probate Department
Harris County Probate Terms to Know
Cause Number
The case number assigned to the probate proceeding.
Letters Testamentary
Clerk-issued evidence of an executor’s authority after appointment.
Letters of Administration
Evidence of an administrator’s court-authorized role.
Heirship
A court proceeding used to legally determine heirs.
Muniment of Title
A Texas probate procedure that may transfer property under a will without traditional administration when legal requirements are met.
Small Estate Affidavit
A limited Texas estate procedure available only when statutory eligibility requirements are satisfied.
Harris County Probate Court FAQs
How many probate courts are in Harris County?
Harris County has five statutory Probate Courts, numbered 1 through 5.
Where do I search Harris County probate records?
Use the Harris County Clerk Probate Document Search portal and select Probate Courts as the case type.
Where are Harris County Probate Courts 1 through 4?
Probate Courts 1 through 4 are at 201 Caroline Street in Houston, Texas 77002.
Where is Harris County Probate Court No. 5?
Probate Court No. 5 is at 1115 Congress Street, 5th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002.
What is the Harris County Clerk Probate Department phone number?
The Probate Department phone number is 713-274-8585.
How soon must the original will be filed after e-filing?
The Harris County Clerk e-File FAQ says the original will must be filed with the County Clerk within three business days after the probate application is submitted electronically.
Are original wills e-filed in Harris County?
No. A copy is attached to the electronic application, while the original will is exempt from e-filing and must be physically filed with the County Clerk.
What documents are exceptions to probate e-filing?
The County Clerk FAQ identifies wills, codicils, bonds and citation returns as examples of documents exempt from electronic filing.
What is the common initial probate filing fee?
The Harris County Clerk fee sheet lists a $360 initial filing fee for many new estate and guardianship categories. Posting, publication, personal service and other charges can be additional.
Can Harris County Probate Clerk staff give legal advice?
No. Clerk staff can assist with filing and locating records but cannot choose a probate procedure or provide legal advice.
Independent Guide Disclaimer
ProbateCourtUSA.org is an independent informational website. It is not the Harris County Probate Courts, Harris County Clerk, Harris County government, State of Texas, a law firm or an official court filing service.
Court assignments, dockets, judges, fees, forms, e-filing requirements and hearing procedures can change. Verify case-specific requirements with the Harris County Clerk, assigned Probate Court or a qualified Texas probate attorney before filing or relying on legal information.